Socialising with grad students

[sushidog]

Hi all

Comments

[tx_cronopio]

Doesn't sound creepy at all to me, it sounds like a nice gesture.

[disastrid]

I just attended a party with my research group at our PhD supervisor's house, celebrating the end of one of the postdocs as he goes off to greener pastures. It was awesome; everyone's very friendly, and some other departmental lecturers came and it was great to hang out in a less stressful environment.

I'd say it depends on the relationship you have with the PhD students, but in my own experience a PhD is so isolating and thankless that this kind of thing is usually extremely well-received.

[bananainpyjamas]

That's totally fine. IME many professors organize social outings for their grad students every once in a while (a senior prof in my department will do dinner at a nice restaurant, for example).

[a_kosmos]

My husband is a tenured faculty member at a state university, and he always likes to have his grad students and their families over at the end of the semester for dinner and wine/beer. They seem to really enjoy the gesture, and they eat like hyenas.

[sammason]

I agree with others here: this is a nice gesture to make. The studes may be esp glad if you tactfully arrange to pay for the more expensive items, while they can contribute affordable treats if they want to.

Another point that occurs to me is accessibility. For some studes, socialising has to fit around disability, kids and/or religion. I think it would be good to talk quietly with people in your new lab to find out what's appropriate. Oh yes, and if anybody's doing time-bound experiments (eg cell culture) they'll be glad of time to plan.

[sushidog]

I was planning on getting in some beer and wine (Aldi have very nice stuff for very cheap!) and ordering in a couple of large pizzas, and maybe providing some veggie crudities and dip, so it won't cost them anything. My flat is ground floor, so it's fairly accessible, and it's psychology, so no-one will have cultures (or indeed animal subjects, in my dept.) to watch over. I'll bear in mind religious and dietary requirements!